Metal-containing compositions, preparations and uses

ABSTRACT

A metal-containing composition substantially comprising (i) at least one water soluble metal compound which forms metal ions when dissolved in water, (ii) at least one metal ion modifier as herein defined, (iii) at least one acid, and (iv) water said composition having a pH of less than 6 and an electrolytic potential in excess of 10 millivolts. Such compositions have uses in the prevention and/or treatment of pathogenic disease or disorder, as foodstuff supplements, in the treatment by disinfection of meat and other foodstuffs, in the coating, sealing and plating of metals, and treatment of water and sewage.

It is well established that minerals i.e. (races of selected metalelements are required as part of the human diet for good health. Mineraldeficiencies can lead to poor health and specific disorders. Amongst theminerals that the body requires, there are, for example, the metalszinc, magnesium, copper, iron, and selenium. The human body requirestraces of such minerals in soluble form whereby the correspondingmetallic ions are bio-available within the bloodstream.

With the increase in highly processed and convenience foods, there areconcerns that the typical diet in today's conditions may not containsufficient vitamins and/or minerals. Accordingly vitamin and mineralsupplements are widely available without prescription on the basis thatthey are foodstuff components and not medicaments.

This invention is particularly concerned with mineral metalcompositions, their preparation and uses within a mineral ‘delivery’system for humans or animals. It is known that mineral salts bythemselves, e.g. zinc sulphate, iron sulphate and the like willdissociate in aqueous solution to form the corresponding ions e.g. Zn²⁺and Fe²⁺ with SO₄ ²⁻. However, it has been observed that the metallicmineral ions in solution within the bloodstream are not readilybio-available in the sense of being available for uptake by cells.Accordingly there are at least two mineral ‘binder’ systems availablefor enhancing bio-availability of these ions. Most mineral supplementcompositions presently available are based upon an inorganic chelatebinder system. In such compositions, the required mineral element e.g.zinc, magnesium or the like is chemically bonded to a chelate such thatbio-availability of the mineral ions is still significantly impaired.The digestive system has difficulty in leaching the mineral element awayfrom the chelate binder for cellular uptake. This limits theirbio-availability. Chelate based mineral supplements apparently limit thebody's absorption of the elemental mineral to some 7 to 10% of thatpresented. It is suggested that the remaining mineral content is notabsorbed into the bloodstream, but is passed in the urine or faeces.Chelate-bound iron mineral supplements, in particular, can causeconstipation as the chelate can act as a flocculent in the largeintestine. It is desirable that such disadvantage be overcome in analternative mineral ‘delivery’ system with improved bio-availability ofthe mineral elements.

Another mineral supplement composition is based upon a mineral saltcombined with an organic glutamate binder. One product based upon theglutamate bound mineral delivery system is a lozenge containing zinc fororal ingestion. However, not only does the glutamate delivery systemdemonstrate restricted mineral element/ion bio-availability in similarfashion to the chelates described above, but also zinc glutamatelozenges in particular tend to leave undesirable coloured stains in themouth. Accordingly it is also desirable to overcome this particulardisadvantage in an alternative mineral delivery system providing bettermineral element bio-availability.

In consequence it can be summarised that the existing chelate andglutamate bound mineral compositions deliver such mineral elements intothe bloodstream but only a small proportion of the total content of therespective mineral element, and over a relatively lengthy period of timewhereby specific mineral bio-availability is limited.

The present inventor has considered the existing mineral deliverysystems such as the chelate and glutamate delivery systems and theirdisadvantages. The present invention provides inter alia, alternativemineral delivery systems based on quite different components which havebeen found to improve specific mineral bio-availability in terms of notonly bloodstream quantities but also bloodstream absorption time.

The present inventor provides several aspects to his invention, basedupon mineral or other metallic element—containing compositions, methodsfor preparing such compositions and uses of such compositions whichencompass several distinct technical fields apart from the field ofmineral supplements for the human or animal diet, namely uses of thecompositions for medical conditions in the treatment of a disease ordisorder, treating or purifying water or sewage, use as an algaecide,fungicide and disinfectant and uses in treating metal substrates tocontrol corrosion.

Accordingly in a first aspect of this invention there is provided ametal-containing composition substantially comprising:

(i) at least one water soluble metal compound which forms metal ionswhen dissolved in water,

(ii) at least one metal ion modifier as herein defined,

(iii) at least one acid, and

(iv) water

said composition having a pH of less than 6 and an electrolyticpotential in excess of 10 millivolts.

The term ‘metal’ is used herein to encompass semi-metals of a mineralnature, e.g. selenium.

Such compositions preferably essentially consist of the aforesaidcomponents with any preferred additives and more preferably consist ofsuch ingredients, optional additives and the balance being anyinevitable impurities.

In a second aspect of this invention there is provided a method ofmaking a composition as defined in the first aspect comprisingdissolving (i) in distilled water, adding (ii) and mixing or allowing todissolve, then adding (iii) whilst simultaneously monitoring the pH andelectrolytic potential of the composition until a required value of eachmeasurement is obtained.

A third aspect of this invention provides the use of a composition asdefined in the first aspect in medicine, for example the use of such acomposition for preventing or treating one or more of the followingpathogenic disorders, namely bacterial, fungal or viral infection,retroviral infection such as AIDS or Hepatitis C, particularly includingcopper containing such compositions for treating one or more of thefollowing diseases, namely cholera, salmonella, shigella, E. Coli andchlamydia.

A fourth aspect of this invention provides the use of a composition asdefined in the first aspect, in the preparation of a medicament for usein the treatment of a disease or disorder, such as one or more of theaforementioned diseases or disorders.

The invention also provides in a fifth aspect the use of a compositionas defined in the first aspect in the treatment of water or watercontaining materials or sewage, effluent, commercial, domestic wasteproducts as a bactericide, or algaecide, flocculent viricide and/orfungicide.

A sixth aspect of the present invention provides the use of acomposition as defined in the first aspect to form a corrosion resistantcoating or plating for metal substrates, to act as a sealant againstmetal corrosion.

In a seventh aspect the present invention provides the use of acomposition as defined in the first aspect as a bactericidal and/orfungicidal preservative against the bacterial or fungal deterioration ofedible foodstuffs.

The metal ion modifier is preferably a binder other than chelate orglutamate effective to transport ions incorporating the metallic mineralelement through the digestive system and into the bloodstream inbioavailable form. Such binder can be, for example, a complexing,buffering or sequestering agent. It is most preferred to use solubleammonium compounds, such as one or more of the following ammonium salts:ammonium chloride, sulphate or phosphate.

Such metal ion modifiers appear particularly effective in retaining andsustaining electrolytic potential.

The present invention is based on the inventor's discoveries that animproved metallic mineral delivery system for the human or animalbloodstream and other uses can be formulated from selectedmetal-containing electrolytes in acidic aqueous media which demonstratea measurable electrolytic potential which is stable for a significantperiod of time. Such compositions have surprisingly been found, interalia, when ingested or absorbed to make the mineral ions more rapidlyavailable to the body for cellular uptake, and more efficiently andsustainably in terms of percentage by weight of bio-available mineralwithin the bloodstream, after a given time. Additionally it would appearthat the ions incorporating the metallic mineral element are morebio-active due to enhanced beneficial effects which have been observed.The ions incorporating the metallic mineral element appear to bepolarised, with an overall cationic charge. Accordingly, within thepresent compositions, the metallic element effects appear to besynergistically improved by the metal ion modifier. In particular thisappears to be the case with zinc and magnesium compositions.

In preferred embodiments of the invention, the metal compositions aremineral metal such compositions and can act transdermally by passingthrough the skin, mucosa or other mucous membrane, for even more rapidabsorption into the bloodstream.

Preferred embodiments of the compositions for dietary supplement ormedical uses can provide up to 90% by weight of the mineral elementabsorbed into the bloodstream, in bio-available and potentially morebio-active form in up to 10 minutes e.g. within 6 to 10 minutes.Accordingly such compositions for dietary or medical uses in the form ofacidic aqueous electrolyte solutions can provide for rapid mineralelement ion delivery to the body for cellular uptake, with less wastageof the desirable mineral passing in the urine and/or faeces.

In the case of preferred compositions which contain iron or zinc as themineral element, it is possible to avoid the disadvantages of chelatediron and zinc glutamate mentioned above, whilst simultaneously providingmore of these mineral elements available in the bloodstream in less timeand again apparently in a more bio-active form.

The present compositions for human or animal dietary or medical use arepreferably based upon the presence of at least one water soluble metalcompound such as a mineral metal salt in aqueous compositions whichfurther contain components as defined in the first aspect and all ofwhich said components have been designated GRAS (generally regarded assafe) food additives or other chemicals by the US-FDA.

In order to make the present compositions for human or animal dietary ormedical use, it is preferred for the following general preparativeprocedure to be adopted:

General Procedure

(a) The required metal such as a mineral element e.g. zinc is includedby way of a soluble salt of the metal such as zinc sulphate. This is tobe completely dissolved in distilled water (in contrast to deionisedwater) preferably 1 liter by mixing the salt into the water at ordinaryroom temperature, e.g. about 20° C. by vigorous stirring. Thecorresponding metallic mineral ions thereby form in the aqueoussolution.

(b) When all the metallic salt has been completely dissolved in thedistilled water, at least one metal ion modifier is added, preferably asequestering, buffering or complexing agent such as one or more solubleammonium salts, for example one or more of: ammonium sulphate, ammoniumchloride, ammonium citrate, and ammonium phosphate, which is mixed intothe solution to dissolve therein.

(c) To the aqueous mixture, obtained in step (b), at least one acidcomponent (e.g. sulphuric and/or citric acid or hydrochloric acid) isadded carefully and slowly, preferably by measured metering, to lowerthe pH of the mixture to a preferred level and to simultaneously exhibita measurable electrolytic potential until a preferred level thereof isalso reached. The value of electrolytic potential is preferably measuredand monitored by milli-voltmeter. Several commercially availableinstantaneous readout pH meters can function as a milli-voltmeter bysimple adjustment. Sufficient acid should be added so as to control thevalues of pH and electrolytic potential. This process for making theaqueous metal-containing compositions, particularly mineral metal suchcompositions for dietary or medical use, can be likened to a form ofelectrometric titration.

The inventor has observed that in many embodiments, after completion ofstep (c)—the addition of one or more appropriate acids, most preferablyGRAS designated acids, the compositions exhibit behaviour associatedwith dynamic equilibrium solutions at relatively high electrolyticpotential. An exothermic reaction during step (c) may be observed. Theaqueous compositions in many embodiments also appear to demonstrate thecharacteristics of an overall cationic solution in which positivelycharged cations including the metallic element outnumber the anions.Furthermore such cations when present in the bloodstream appear to beattracted to and thereby damage or destroy pathogenic cells having anoverall negative charge, such as bacterial, fungal or viral cells.

In order that the invention in all its aspects may be further elucidateda plurality of non-limiting examples are now presented in tabular formfor a more complete appreciation of the invention, and to enable theseand other embodiments of the invention to be reduced to practice by oneof ordinary skill in the art. The preparative procedure in each examplecorresponds to the general procedure already outlined above, using 1liter of distilled water, or 860 mls in the case of example 13a.

For the medical fields of application, the formulations can beadministered orally in the range of 1 drop to 15 drops, dissolved inmore water, once, twice or three times daily, depending upon theseverity of the condition.

For the non-medical fields of application, the quantities to be used canbe varied according to economics, effects desired, volume of material(eg water) to be treated. The precise amounts are rather less criticaland adjustments can be made by the user.

It will be appreciated that where the metal compound is a sulphate, thenthe metal ion modifier is preferably also a sulphate and the acidpreferably is sulphuric.

Similarly where the metal compound is a chloride, the ion modifier ispreferably also a chloride and the acid is preferably hydrochloric.Where the metal ion modifier is a phosphate, it is preferred to usephosphoric acid as the acid, whatever metal salt is used as the sourceof metallic ions.

Final Mineral or Electrolytic other Metal Metal ion Potential ExampleElement(s) in Compound(s)/ Modifier(s)/ Acid(s)/ Optional FinalMillivolts Field(s) of No. Composition Amount Amount Amount Additive(s)pH (mV) Application 1 Copper Copper Ammonium Sulphuric — <1.5 350–380Medical, Anti-bacterial Sulphate Sulphate 98% especially against 150 g75 g 37.5 mls Helicobacter pylori 2 Copper Copper Ammonium Sulphuric —1–2 >300 Medical, anti mycological Sulphate Sulphate 98% Treatment 150 g75 g variable* 3 Copper Copper Ammonium Sulphuric — <2 >350 Medicalarthritis Sulphate Sulphate 98% Alleviation 150 g 75 g variable 4 CopperCopper Ammonium Sulphuric — 1.5 >350 Substantial copper SulphateSulphate 98% dietary supplement 200 g 75 g variable 5 MagnesiumMagnesium Ammonium Sulphuric Vitamin B1 1–2 >350 Medical, antiviralSulphate/ Sulphate 98% Vitamin B3 150 g 75 g variable 6 MagnesiumMagnesium Ammonium Sulphuric — 1–2 >350 Medical asthma treatmentSulphate/ Sulphate 98% or prevention 150 g 75 g variable 7 MagnesiumMagnesium Ammonium Sulphuric — 1–2 >350 Medical, stroke treatmentSulphate/ Sulphate 98% and prophylactic 150 g 75 g variable 8 MagnesiumMagnesium Ammonium Sulphuric Malic acid 1–2 >350 Medical, treatment forSulphate/ Sulphate 98% Chronic fatigue syndrome 150 g 75 g variable 9Magnesium Magnesium Ammonium Phosphoric Malic acid 1–2 >350 As forexample 8 and also Sulphate/ Phosphate Acid 40 g for combatting sideeffects 100 g 60 g Concentrated in patients with retroviral 40 mlsdisease such as AIDS and/or Hepatitis C 10 Magnesium Magnesium AmmoniumSulphuric Natural 1–2 >350 Medical relief of pre- Sulphate/ Sulphate 98%Diuretic menstrual tension 150 g 75 g variable 11 Magnesium MagnesiumAmmonium Sulphuric Melatonin 1–2 >350 Medical treatment of Sulphate/Sulphate 98% Valerian insomnia 150 g 75 g variable 12 MagnesiumMagnesium Ammonium Sulphuric 98% — 1–2 >350 Substantial magnesiumSulphate Sulphate variable dietary supplement 200 g 75 g 13 SeleniumSelenium Ammonium Sulphuric 98% — 1–2 >350 Medical treatment of cancerSulphate Sulphate variable 150 g 75 g 13a Selenium Selenic AmmoniumPhosphoric Acid — 1–2 >350 Composition for use in the Acid H₂O₂SePhosphate Concentrated 40 treatment of cancer. 50 g 80 g mls Hepatitis Cand AIDS. Topical formulation of this composition has indications fortreatment of melanoma 14 Iron Iron Ammonium Sulphuric 98% — 1–2 >350Substantial iron dietary Sulphate Sulphate variable supplement 200 g 75g 15 Zinc Zinc Ammonium Sulphuric 98% Vitamin C 1–2 >350 Medical,antiviral, Sulphate Sulphate variable particularly anti-retroviral 150 g75 g eg Aids & Hepatits C 16 Zinc Zinc Ammonium Sulphuric 98%Stimulants - 1–2 >350 Medical, altertness Sulphate Sulphate variablecaffeine, enhancer, potential hangover 200 g 75 g Nicotine remedy andginseng 17 Zinc Zinc Ammonium Sulphuric 98% — 1–2 >350 Substantial zincdietary Sulphate Sulphate variable supplement 150 g 75 g 18 Zinc ZincAmmonium Sulphuric 98% Vitamin B5 1–2 >350 Medical - to counter sideSulphate Sulphate Variable Vitamin B6 Effects of chemotherapy 200 g 75 gTo accelerate Zinc Delivery 18a Zinc Zinc Ammonium Phosphoric acidCitric acid 1–2 >350 Same as example 43 a more Sulphate Sulphateconcentrated 30 g preferred formulation, suitable 100 g 65 g 40 mls(catalyst) for AIDS patients with and pyruvic mitochondrial dysfunctionor acid 50 g otherwise damaged by reverse (co-enzyme) transcriptaseinhibitors 19 Copper Copper Ammonium Phosphoric — 1–2 >350 Fungicide,soil sterilant Sulphate Phosphate Acid to replace methyl bromide, 150 g75 g Variable transdermal fungicide 20 Copper Copper AmmoniumHydrochloric — 1–2 >350 As example 1 Sulphate Chloride acid- 150 g 75 gconcentrated variable 21 Copper Copper Ammonium Hydrochloric — 1–2 >350As example 3 Sulphate Chloride acid- 150 g 75 g concentrated variable 22Copper Copper Ammonium Hydrochloric — 1–2 >350 Medical, fungicide, oraland/or Sulphate Chloride Acid- topical formulations 150 g 75 gconcentrated Variable 23 Zinc Zinc Ammonium Hydrochloric — 1–2 >350Medical, antiviral Sulphate Chlordie Acid- 150 g 75 g concentratedVariable 24 Copper Copper Ammonium Sulphuric acid — 1–2 >350 Waterpurification - Sulphate Sulphate 98% variable disinfectant 200 g 75 g 25Copper Copper Ammonium Sulphuric acid — 1–2 >350 Water treatment -algaecide Sulphate Sulphate 98% variable 200 g 75 g 26 Copper CopperAmmonium Sulphuric — 1–2 >350 Water treatment - swimming pool SulphateSulphate Acid 98% disinfectant 200 g 75 g Variable 27 Copper CopperAmmonium Sulphuric — 1–2 >350 Sewage Sulphate Sulphate Acid 98%treatment - disinfectant 200 g 75 g Variable 28 Iron Iron AmmoniumSulphuric — 1–2 >350 Water treatment - flocculent Sulphate 150 gSulphate Acid 98% 75 g Varibale 28a Iron Iron II Ammonium Sulphuric acid— 0.79  391 Water treatment, flocculant, Sulphate Sulphate concentrated99% removal of organic matter monohydrate 66.66 g 33.33 mls 133.33 g(FeSO₄.H₂O) Molecular weight = 151.91 Fe content per mole = 55.85 Fecontent = 36.76% by weight 28b Iron Iron II Ammonium Sulphuric acid —0.17  385 As example 28a Sulphate Sulphate concentrated 99% Heptahydrate100 g 50 mls 200 g FeSO₄.7H₂O Molecular weight = 278.01 Fe content =20.08% by weight 28c Iron Iron III Ammonium Sulphuric acid — 0.15  404As example 28a Sulphate Sulphate concentrated 99% monohydrate 100 g 50mls 200 g Fe₂(SO₄). 28d Iron Iron III Ammonium Hydrochloric acid — −0.45 436 As example 28a Chloride 200 g chloride 35‥38% by FeCl₃ 100 gvolume, specific gravity 1.18 50 mls 28e Aluminium Aluminium AmmoniumHydrochloric — −0.98  466 As example 28a Chloride 300 g Chloride acid35–38% molecular 150 g by volume, weight 241.43 specific Al contentgravity 1.18 26.98% by 75 mls weight 29 Copper Copper AmmoniumHydrochloric — 1–2 >350 As example 1 Sulphate 150 g chloride acid- 75 gconcentrated variable 30 Copper Copper Ammonium Hydrochloric — 1–2 >350As example 26 Sulphate 150 g chloride acid- 75 g concentrated variable31 Copper Copper Ammonium Hydrochloric — 1–2 >350 Sewage treatment -chloride acid- disinfectant for sewage 75 g concentrated solids variable32 Copper Copper Ammonium Sulphuric — 1–2 >350 Food preservationfungicide Sulphate 150 g Sulphate 98% variable spray for fruit and 75 gvegetables 33 Copper Copper Ammonium Sulphuric — 1–2 >350 Foodpreservatiion - meat Sulphate 150 g Sulphate 98% variable disinfectant75 g 34 Copper Copper Ammonium Sulphuroc Fructose 1–2 >350 Flower, treeand shrub Sulphate 150 g Sulphate 98% variable preservation e.g.christmas 75 g trees - bactericide and fungicide 35 Copper CopperAmmonium Sulphuric — 1–2 >350 Food preservation seafood SulphateSulphate 98% variable preservative 150 g 75 g 36 Copper Copper AmmoniumSulphuric — 1–2 >350 Food preservation - for Sulphate Sulphate 98%variable fruit and vegetables 150 g 75 g 37 Copper Copper AmmoniumHydrochloric — 1–2 >350 Food preservation - food Sulphate Chloride acid-processing area sanitiser 150 g 75 g concentrated variable 38 CopperCopper Ammonium Sulphuric — 1–2 >350 Metal preservation - metal sulphate300 g sulphate 98% variable sealing, plating and anti- 82.5 g corrosion39 Nickel Nickel sulphate Ammonium Sulphuric — 1–2 >350 As example 38300 g sulphate 98% variable 82.5 g 40 Nickel Nickel sulphate AmmoniumSulphuric Zinc 1–2 >350 Industrial-algaecide and 200 g sulphate 98%variable sulphate bactericide particularly in 75 g cooling towers toinhibit legionella bacteria 41 Titanium Titanium Ammonium Sulphuric —1–2 >350 As example 38 sulphate 300 g sulphate 98% variable 82.5 g 42Vanadium Vanadium Ammonium Sulphuric — 1–2 >350 As example 38 sulphate300 g sulphate 98% variable 82.5 g 1 43 Zinc Zinc Ammonium PhosphoricCitric 1–2 >350 Medical, for use in sulphate phosphate acid Acidrepairing impaired/damaged 150 g 75 g varibale mitochondria e.g. inpatients with AIDS presently taking more than one AIDS treatment drug.44 Magnesium Magnesium Ammonium Phosphoric Malic 1–2 >350 Medical, foruse in sulphate phosphate acid Acid repairing impaired/damaged 150 g 75g variable mitochondria e.g. in patients with AIDS presently taking morethan one AIDS treatment drug. 45 Zinc Zinc Ammonium Phosphoric Citric1–2 >350 Medical - for use in sulphate phosphate acid acid treating MEchronic fatigue 150 g 75 g variable And Syndrome Pyruvic acid 46Magnesium Magnesium Ammonium Phosphoric Malic 1–2 >350 Medical - for usein sulphate phosphate Acid acid treating ME chronic fatigue 150 g 75 gvariable syndrome *N.B. variable denotes amount adjusted to obtainrequired specific pH and mV values, low pH and high mV being preferred.

From these examples it will be appreciated that the compositions mayinclude one or more other additional components, besides the metal suchas the preferred mineral, metal ion modifer, acid and water. By way ofexample, in zinc mineral compositions for dietary supplements or medicaluse it is preferred to incorporate one or more of the water solublevitamins C. B5 and B6, each of which appear to play a role inaccelerating delivery of the zinc mineral to cells via the bloodstream,to enhance the beneficial zinc ion effects.

In the case of magnesium mineral compositions for treating or preventingviral infections, it is preferred to include vitamins B1 and B3 topromote or synergise such beneficial anti-viral properties of themagnesium ion.

In the case of magnesium mineral compositions for treating chronicfatigue syndrome, it is preferred to include malic acid because it isuseful for the same purpose. Compositions based on magnesium fortreating PMT (pre-menstrual tension) preferably also include a naturaldiuretic to relieve water retention and for such compositions intendedto treat insomnia, it is preferred also to include known sleep enhancerssuch as valerian or rapid eye movement extenders such as melatonin.

Zinc mineral compositions intended for enhancing vitality and forcountering the effects of tiredness may further contain one or more ofthe following or other stimulants: caffeine, nicotine and ginseng.

The present compositions when used as a mineral source for rapidingestion can demonstrate the following properties and advantages:

(1) An ability to bind metal ions, eg from salts through the action ofat least one metal ion modifier within the acidic, electrolyticallyactive aqueous solution. In this regard, the metal ion modifier appearsto act as a binder and/or buffering agent which links up with the metalions, and which ‘buffers’ those desirable metal ions against removalfrom the bloodstream.

(2) An ability to deliver and retain those mineral metals in anionically modified form in the human or animal bloodstream through thebuccal muscosa, oesophagus or stomach rapidly, i.e within a few minutes.

(3) The ionically modified mineral metal ions appear to remain in theblood serum to facilitate bio-availability of the specific mineral metalfor cellular uptake, and moreover certain effects which have beenobserved appear to indicate that it is not only the bio-availabilitywhich is enhanced, but also and quite surprisingly the bioactivity ofthe mineral. This could be due to the apparent stability of overallcationic charge of the ions incorporating the metal.

(4) The ionically modified mineral metal ions retain a net positiveelectrical charge which interacts with negatively charged virus,bacteria or fungal cells, forming a complex with these pathogens.

(5) The ionically modified mineral metal ions in solution carry andappear to have the ability to deliver an electrical charge. This chargecoupled with the overall mineral metal delivery system and the selectedmineral metals help to control pathogens (bacteria, fungi and virus)apparently by degrading their membranes, complexing the pathogensthereby rendering them inactive or otherwise unable to harm the host'sbody. In this regard the present mineral metal compositions whendelivered into the bloodstream, help the body's natural immune system tofight infection.

(6) Substantially improved bio-availability of the mineral in thebloodstream after digestion or absorption in terms of mineral quantityand substantially reduced time for the mineral to become bio-availableafter digestion or absorption i.e. rapid absorption.

(7) Additional medical benefits have surprisingly been found above andbeyond the known benefits of mineral supplements. The presentcompositions have a wide variety of uses in medicine as hereinbeforedescribed and whilst such benefits have been shown applicable to thetreatment of human disease, similar uses are proposed in the treatmentof animals by way of using the present compositions as veterinarymineral supplements.

The present compositions may be formulated as aqueous solutions andpresented for use and/or sale within dropper bottles for convenientaddition to foodstuffs, beverages or to water for consumption.Alternatively the compositions can be applied directly to the buccalmucosa for even more rapid mineral metal absorption into thebloodstream.

Alternatively the compositions may be formulated as capsules containinga unit dose, or presented in tablet form after evaporating or freezedrying the compositons in such a manner that the pH and electrolyticpotential can be substantially restored to the preferred valuesdescribed herein by the presence of acid in the stomach.

In order that application of the invention may be demonstrated,reference is now made to the accompanying drawings and the followingnon-limiting examples.

FIG. 1 shows the antibacterial activity of Example 24 againstEscherichia coli QC strain at a variety of dilutions. Exposure was forone hour at 37 degrees centigrade. Under these testing conditions, adilution of as little as 0.04 ppm was still effective in reducingbacterial counts by 99.9%. Recommended dosage is at the 1 ppm level.

Actual Data: Control: (0 ppm) 9 × 10⁴ cfu/ml (colony formingunits/milliliter) 1.0 ppm: No recoverable bacteria 0.2 ppm: Norecoverable bacteria 0.04 ppm: 12.7 cfu/ml 0.008 ppm: 1 × 10⁴ cfu/ml0.0016 ppm: 6.4 × 10⁵ cfu/ml

FIG. 2 shows the results of treating a treatment plant effluent with aformulation according to Example 24, wherein the colony forming unitsplotted are of residual fecal coliforms. The conditions leading to theseresults were as follows:

1 hour Exposure Time, 22 Degrees Centigrade Typical Effluent Conditions,Mg/L: Dissolved Oxygen 4.8 COD 106 pH (max) 7.5 pH (min) 7.1 Ammonium(NH3-N) 9.0 Total N (Kjeldahl) 9.4 Nitrogen Species (NOx) 3.8 BOD 12

FIG. 3 shows the antibacterial activity of an example 24 formulationagainst Escherichia coli QC strain at a 1 ppm concentration. Exposurewas for one hour at 37 degrees centigrade in 1 mM PO₄ buffer.

Actual Data: Control: (0 ppm) 9 × 10⁴ cfu/ml 1 ppm: No recoverablebacteria

Further results against a variety of bacteria using a formulationcorresponding to Example 24 are shown in FIG. 4. The conditions werebroadly similar to those described with reference to FIG. 3.

The figures demonstrate the bacteriocidal activity.

1. A metal-containing composition consisting essentially of: (i) atleast one water soluble metal compound which forms metal ions whendissolved in water which consists of at least one compound selected fromthe group consisting of: zinc, magnesium, copper, selenium, iron,nickel, titanium, vanadium and aluminum compounds, (ii) at least onemetal ion binding, complexing or sequestering agent other than chelateor glutamate selected from the group consisting of ammonium sulphate,ammonium chloride, ammonium phosphate and ammonium citrate, (iii) atleast one acid selected from the group consisting of sulphuric,hydrochloric, phosphoric and citric acids, and (iv) water saidcomposition having a pH of less than 3 and an electrolytic potential inexcess of 50 millivolts.
 2. A composition as claimed in claim 1 whereinsaid metal ion is at least one selected from the group consisting of thefollowing mineral metals: copper, magnesium, selenium, iron and zinc. 3.A composition as claimed in claim 1 which consists of (i)–(iv) asdefined in claim
 1. 4. A composition as claimed in claim 1 wherein (i)is an inorganic salt of at least one selected from the group consistingof zinc, magnesium, copper, selenium, iron, nickel, titanium orvanadium.
 5. A composition as claimed in claim 4 in which said salt (i)is at least one salt selected from the group consisting of sulphate,chloride and nitrate.
 6. A composition as claimed in claim 4 in whichsaid salt (i) is at least one salt selected from the group consisting ofzinc, magnesium, copper, iron and selenium salts.
 7. A composition asclaimed in claim 6 in which (i) is a sulphate selected from the groupconsisting of zinc sulphate, magnesium sulphate, iron sulphate andcopper sulphate.
 8. A composition as claimed in claim 1 wherein (ii) isammonium sulphate.
 9. A composition as claimed in claim 1 wherein (iii)is sulphuric or hydrochloric acid.
 10. A composition as claimed in claim1 in which the pH value is less than 2.5.
 11. A composition as claimedin claim 10 in which the pH value is 2 or less.
 12. A composition asclaimed in claim 1 in which the electrolytic potential is in excess of100 millivolts.
 13. A composition as claimed in claim 12 in which theelectrolytic potential is in excess of 200 millivolts.
 14. A compositionas claimed in claim 13 in which the electrolytic potential is in excessof 300 millivolts.
 15. A composition as claimed in claim 14 in which theelectrolytic potential is in the range of 340 to 400 millivolts.
 16. Amethod of making a composition as claimed in claim 1 comprisingdissolving (i) as defined in claim 1 in distilled water, adding (ii) asdefined in claim 1 and mixing or allowing to dissolve, then adding (iii)as defined in claim 1 whilst simultaneously monitoring the pH andelectrolytic potential of the composition until a required value of eachmeasurement is obtained.
 17. A method as claimed in claim 16 in which(i) is an inorganic salt of at least one compound selected from thegroup consisting of zinc, magnesium, copper, selenium, iron, nickel,titanium or vanadium.
 18. A method as claimed in claim 16 in which (ii)is ammonium sulphate.
 19. An antimicrobial, antiviral, antiretrovirus orantifungal formulation comprising a composition as claimed in claim 1 inconjunction with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, diluent orexcipient therefor.
 20. A composition as claimed in claim 10 which thepH value is in the range of 1 to
 2. 21. A composition as claimed inclaim 14 in which the electrolytic potential is at least 340 mV.